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Monday, January 3, 2011

Sneak Peek: "Where Your Heart Is" and "Ready, Set, Snow!"

Welcome to our first day of Gina K Designs January Sneak Peeks! First up we have my newest set, "Where Your Heart Is", which began with an idea over two years ago and has evolved over time. Stamping has really broadened my horizons in so many ways; beyond crafting, I've met people with common interests but very different life experiences, many who are wives of men serving in the military, like Beate Johns, Emily Giovanni, and Carolyn King. It made the sacrifices that everyone makes in a family where a spouse is away SO real for me, I started thinking about doing a special set to honor people like them and that family members can send to each other.

Then shortly after Gina released her Kindred Spirits Moms, a comment someone left on Gina's blog really spoke to me and took this idea even further: from a woman who was a mom, and a stamper, but it was SHE who was the one away serving in Iraq and missing her kids, saying she wished she was able to be at home with her children like those Kindred Spirits. WOW. I realized the need for something that expressed the love between friends and families who are apart, whether that is months at a time, or just a few days or overnight because they are serving others, in any kind of occupation, was REALLY needed. Nurses. Clergy. The list goes on and on. Factor in all the people around us in our communities who make our lives better, schools better, churches better, through their volunteering, time and servant hearts and the thanks they deserve, I knew the perfect last few sentiments and the perfect image that would make the set complete. The framed hands (which fit the various rectangle Nestabilites sets) forming a heart is so universal that anyone would recognize its meanings, regardless of age or language: My heart goes out to you, I keep you in my heart, I love you, I'm grateful beyond words....

Hands are shaded with E00 and E21 (I will share a tutorial after our peeks are over, very easy to do), I colored the heart in between the hands with R37 and R59 and then sponged Antique Linen Distressing ink around the outside. A very simple way to show your love for someone, even my little boys know what this means! On the card below I used the same focal point but changed up the layout slightly to add a greeting. I could make a card every day with this set for all the people I owe thanks for making my life and the world a better place and those who are in need of prayers, and I still wouldn't be finished, but I'm glad to have sentiments that makes it so easy to express what I'm feeling. And finally one to a friend whose father is very ill. Paper is Pure Luxury Black Onyx,Kraft and Basic Grey Curio, hands are pieced on top with White Pure Luxury and colored with the same Copics listed above.Perhaps more than any other past set I am so anxious for you to see all the greetings you'll be able to create from the sentiments provided, this set is very near and dear to my heart, but this peek is only a *tiny* peek of what you can say to show your support!

Next up we have Rupa's "Ready, Set, Snow!" It's finally getting chilly in Texas, so it's fun to pull this out now even post Christmas, but, of course still, no snow here!) I asked my kids to pick which image I should use and I knew they would both pick this one! They've only been sledding a few times but those are favorite memories of snow. I cut the white Pure Luxury layers with a rotary blade to make easy curves fro sliding and popped out the colored and cut penguins. DP is exclusive to Gina K Designs and base is Lipstick Red. TIP: use shades of blue instead of black on the penguin to add some whimsy and make a better, "cooler" match for your snowy background. I used B66 and B37 for the penguins, BG000 for the shadows, Y35 and E07 on the feet and beak, R37 and R59 on the sleds.

The rhinestones flourishes are fun to add both bling and energy to the card!

Thanks for joining us for our first day of peeks! Have fun hopping to the other blogs from our fabulous design team!

169 comments:

AWESOME designs, Melanie!!! Love how you did different cards with the same colored image! GORGEOUS!! Your penguins are sooo adorable and brightly colored!! Just my style! *wink* Love the bling you added as well.

Beautiful cards Melanie with your newest set. Such a meaningful stamp set that is sure to meet the need of many papercrafters as they create cards who do so much for their community and country. Hats off to you and your illustrating!! Love the penguin cards as well, the coloring and design just pop!!

Melanie, what a wonderful new set! I love the clean designs of the first two cards. Such gorgeous coloring! What a great contrast with the third card, showing a softer look with that fab DP. Your penguin card is so adorable!!!

Love the idea behind your new stamp set!! It's not often to find a set which has a message from the heart. Looking forward to it. Love the 2 cards you made with the set and also the super cute penguins!

Melanie, Thanks for creating such a beautiful set with all the "just right" sentiments! Your first pic of the hands/heart is so striking - can't wait to see your tutorial. Also loved your tip on the color of the penguins. Hadn't noticed until I read your comments, but they are spot on! I think these little guys will be perfect for a spinner card :) I think those of us in South Texas should get at least one snowfall each year!

I LOVE your new set Mel! I am in the military spouse club as well and KNOW this set will be a go-to for my hubby's future deployments and those of our friends, as well as the cards I send in to Operation Write Home - EVERYONE involved with OWH is going to want this set, LOL! I especially love the CAS style and shading on your first card. Your penguin card is adorable too, I love the 'wind' you created with bling. I hope you and your family have a happy & healthy new year!

Ohhhh THUD!!!! Seriously those designs with your amazing hands could so easily be framed!!! Sign language holds a special place in my heart and this set is just amazing...I hope you can add to it too! It's such a blessing how many lives you touch!!

All 3 of your cards are gorgeous, all are so talented, was going to say the first one was clean and simple, but it is far from that, maybe clean and beautiful!! And I love snow and love animals, so that set is a given for me!!Wonderful work!

So glad you shared the inspiration behind the set! I love your stamp sets. Your coloring on the pengies is amazing! I wouldn't have thought of blue but it is fantastic!! And the bling really sets off the penguins. The heart set is going to be so wonderful for all sorts of occasions. Can't wait.

This set is going to be perfect for me. My brother in law is shipping out friday for Afghanistan for 10 months, blech!! I plan to make a set of cards my Sis and brand new baby girl (only 6 mos old today) to use while he is away. Thank you for making this set :)

Melanie, you've done it again! I love your other hands set and can't wait for this one. I know it will be well used and well loved! Beautiful cards! The snowy sledding penguins are so cute. Plenty of sledding here!

Fabulous, beautiful cards, Melanie, and what an inspiring story about how this set came to be. Thank you for sharing the story and the beautiful set with us. Love your adorable penguin card! The fun blingy swirls are perfect for giving the card motion and some whimsy!

Melanie, Awesome cards!! The first two cards are simple, but elegant!! The third one just blow me away, I love the colors that you used and the DP is really pretty! Also Love the penguins with the bling!! Keep the wonderful work up!!

Melanie you've done it again!!!!! I love this set and with my DH in the navy along with many of my friends husbands, wives, siblings and children too not to mention all the people that volunteer at our church or the hospital I work at I can see this set will get lots of use. Since my 2 year old always wants to make his own card whenever he sees mommy making cards and this bring such an obvious message I'm sure he'll love it too!!

Your cards are adorable and I just love the stamp sets that you have created, you are a very talented artist. And ditto I thank all of those that are away from home for one reason or another. I would love to have this set as my Grandson goes in the Navy in March, just six weeks after his baby is to be born.http://nanadonnascarddreams.blogspot.com/

Absolutely LOVE the cards you made. Thanks for sharing the story behind the stamp set. My husband is no longer in the military but works away from home up to four months at a time so I can somewhat relate to military wives. Looking forward to this stamp set - it will be used often.

Oh my Goodness!!! Fabulous--wonderful--and absolutely darling!!You made the penguin "come alive"-- I can almost hear them "swishing" down the hill!!! The hands are spectacular, especially with the idea behind them!!! Thanks for sharing your great talent!! suebeebunny@hotmail.com

Melanie, I have to say, that your cards are really wonderful, full of inspiration. Your cards are so simple but yet so powerful. I love them. Great job. I always love everything you design. Have a great New Year

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All Content including, designs, concepts, text, and photographs are COPYRIGHT2015 Melanie Muenchinger. Original artworks are shared for your personal enjoyment only and may not be used for publications (print or online), galleries or contests. Thanks so much for your support!

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About Me

I am a stamp illustrator, author and Senior Design Team Member for Gina K Designs and a WAHM of two terrific boys. I've been stamping and creating cards and other papercrafts for 14 years, and was one of the Splitcoast Original Dirty Dozen Team (melmel). My first book of stamping tutorials came out in January 2012 and the second in May 2013. God has blessed me beyond measure with opportunities to use my gifts and a loving husband who supports my work and art. I pray you find inspiration in the creations and stories I post here!